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Thursday, January 1, 2015

Theocratic Highlights of 2014 - A Look Back

The year 2014 was a year to remember! And as we reflect back on all of the spiritual highlights of this past year, we can only imagine what exciting new things are in store for 2015. The progressiveness is beyond belief: new releases, new understandings, new technology, legal victories and even a new TV station! Aren’t we all blessed to be a part of this special organization?

The following are a few of the highlights. Did we miss something? Was there a special moment you would like to share? Please let us know in the comments below!

Printing Bibles at Japan Bethel

March 13th - Release of the New World Translation in a Large-Size Edition

In order to make the Bible accessible to as many people as possible, the branch released a large-size edition of the revised New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. This edition is printed in the United States and Japan. The combined initial printing was about 424,000 copies.

Did you know that you can order special protective covers for it? Just visit: Ministry Ideaz.

He received his reward March 18th

March 18th - Guy H. Pierce, Member of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses

Governing Body member Guy H. Pierce finished his earthly course on Tuesday, March 18. He was 79 years of age.

Many of us remember fondly how he told us to give our new Bibles a ‘twist.’ In addition to his wife, Penny, Br. Pierce is survived by his six children, several grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

March 22nd - Global Invitation Campaign for the Memorial of Christ’s Death Starts

On Saturday, March 22, 2014, we launched a global campaign to invite the public to the most important event of the year: the Memorial of Christ’s death. The special campaign continued from March 22nd to April 14th.

Millions of publishers had a full share, and hundreds of thousands used the opportunity to auxiliar pioneer, many taking advantage of the arrangement to auxiliary pioneer with the 30-hour requirement.

Weren’t we delighted to see so many interested ones respond to the invitation campaign?

April 14th - The Memorial of Christ’s Death

The evening of Monday, April 14, 2014 was a special one for us.

Jesus instituted this observance, also called the Lord’s Evening Meal, after he and his apostles celebrated the Passover on Nisan 14, 33 C.E. The Memorial emblems of unleavened bread and red wine symbolize Christ’s sinless body and his shed blood—the only sacrifice that can redeem mankind from inherited sin and death.

We reached a new all-time peak in attendance for the 2014 Memorial of 19,950,019 attendees with 14,121 partakers of the emblems.

April 27th - Special Talk for the 2014 Memorial Season

The special public talk for the 2014 Memorial season was during the week of April 21, entitled “Why Would a Loving God Permit Wickedness?” Millions of people, men, women, and children attended in over 100,000 congregations around the world.

June 6th - Regional and International conventions start all over the world

The first international convention in New Jersey, USA

The theme of the convention series was “Keep Seeking First God’s Kingdom!” The program highlighted that God’s Kingdom was established in 1914 and that Jesus Christ is the King of that Kingdom. The convention marked the centennial of God’s Kingdom.

On this date, we began a historic month-long global distribution of the tract Where Can We Find Answers to Life’s Big Questions? to raise awareness of the official website. Since its launch two years ago, people all over the world have found jw.org to be an invaluable resource. Isn't it amazing that in the past two years, over 100,000 people have requested a Bible study via the jw.org website?!

In the month of August, there was a 900% increase in auxiliary pioneers! And weren't we delighted to see a grand new peak of 8,201,545 Kingdom publishers?

Before August, monthly requests for Bible studies via JW.org averaged about 3000. However, in just the first 2 weeks of the campaign there were 3,603 requests for a Bible study!

JW.ORG Facts and Figures

100,000+: Online Bible study requests received from over 230 countries

September 4th was a momentous day for the nearly 5,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses in Kyrgyzstan. The Supreme Court of that country declared portions of the 2008 Religion Law to be unconstitutional. This decision established that our brothers have the right to carry out their religious activity freely.

With this new ruling, the Supreme Court has firmly supported human rights and fundamental freedoms. Our brothers in Kyrgyzstan and around the world cherish the religious freedoms accorded to them and greatly appreciate the State-appointed institutions that defend and uphold fundamental freedoms for the enjoyment of all.

October 1st - 100 Years of Kingdom Rule!

100 Years of Kingdom Rule!

For more than 20 years prior to 1914, our fellow brothers of that time preached that 1914 would be a very important year. Later that year, World War I began, and Bible prophecy came true. The food shortages, earthquakes, diseases, and other Bible prophecies that were fulfilled proved that Jesus Christ began ruling in heaven as King of God’s Kingdom in 1914.

Think of how much the Kingdom has accomplished during these last 100 years:

A global preaching work. Our ranks have swelled from just a few thousand publishers in 1914 to a new peak of 8,201,545 in 239 lands in 2014.

Protection for the Kingdom’s subjects. In spite of bitter opposition, Jehovah has protected us as a group, as shown by many legal victories all over the world.

The uniting of people from all walks of life. God’s Kingdom has united people from various backgrounds, nationalities, and languages, helping them to overcome a wide array of challenges and forming them into a united group of over 8.2 million worshippers.

For now have come to pass
Salvation and kingdom and might.
The Kingdom is in place.
We pray: “Let it come, Let it come!”

October 4th - 2014 Annual General Meeting

Some 19,000 guests from dozens of countries gathered for the 130th annual meeting of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. The program originated from the Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.A., and was tied in by video to a number of other locations.

Among the program highlights were:

The new JW Language App

The new Internet TV station

The Kingdom—100 Years and Counting - a review of how God’s Kingdom has progressively helped us to grow and improve

October 6th - JW Broadcasting goes online

The very first broadcast aired October 6th, 2014

JW Broadcasting started airing online at tv.jw.org. Millions of people around the world tuned in to the first special monthly broadcast. JW Broadcasting runs 24 hours a day, and offers family-friendly online TV that is spiritually uplifting.

There are 12 different feeds:

Monthly Programming

Children

Teenagers

Family

Programs and Events

Our Activities

Our Ministry

Our Organization

Our History

Movies

The Bible

Interviews and Experiences

Other highlights this day:

The JW Language App was released online for Android and Apple devices

October 7th - European Court of Human Rights Upholds Rule of Law in Georgia

European Court of Human Rights

Over the past 12 years, there have been 99 victims in 30 instances of physical violence and verbal abuse in Georgia. Until now, none of the perpetrators have been brought to justice.

On October 7th, the ECHR condemned the failure of authorities to respond adequately, declaring: “The Georgian authorities created a climate of impunity, which ultimately encouraged other attacks against Jehovah’s Witnesses throughout the country.”

November 8 - US Branch Visit

Brothers and sisters in the United States branch territory enjoyed a special weekend program on Saturday, November 8th and Sunday November 9th. The special branch visit was broadcast to various locations so that as many as possible could benefit. All locations received the program via audio/video tie-in in both English and Spanish.

December - Revised editions of What Does the Bible Really Teach? and “Keep Yourselves in God’s Love” released on JW.org

The revised Bible Teach and God’s Love books were made available for download at JW.org. Paper copies are now becoming available at the congregations. Both books had all the scriptures updated to the 2013 revised New World Translation. Also, many pictures were updated.

Did we miss something? What made 2014 special for you? Please share with us in the comments below!

10 comments:

I love this summary! Thank you so much for all your efforts. I would like to add that we in Atlanta Georgia, USA had the great privilege of working alongside our brothers and providing hospitality for our international brotherhood for 6 weeks, (3 weekends of programs - one being Spanish) in July and August. What a joy the be busy serving Jehovah and our brothers in such a capacity all summer.

I thank Jehovah for the blessings that enabled three sisters and myself to attend the International Convention in Frankfurt, Germany. One of the many highlights of our trip was visiting Bethel Selters. To watch the beautiful tour on JW Broadcast now, and to actually have been there brings unspeakable joy.